Bayern Munich moved a step closer to winning the Bundesliga with victory at Borussia Dortmund, where Hansi Flick equalled Pep Guardiola’s record. Our professional coaches assess 👇
Hosts Borussia Dortmund favoured a 3-4-3 formation, led by the front three of Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard and Erling Braut Haaland, while they had possession #BVBFCB
That 3-4-3 became a 5-4-1, through Raphael Guerreiro and Achraf Hakimi withdrawing into defence, and Brandt and Hazard taking their places in midfield #BVBFCB
Dortmund adopted defensive positions intended to discourage Bayern Munich from playing through central areas, in an attempt to trap them in wide positions #BVBFCB
If Bayern advanced into those wide positions, Dortmund would increase the numbers they offered out there to limit their visitors’ options #BVBFCB
Bayern retained a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout the periods they were in possession; Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller rotated in the final third #BVBFCB
That 4-2-3-1 became a 4-4-2 when they were defending; Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman withdrew into midfield from their positions as wide attackers #BVBFCB
Dortmund struggled to access the spaces that existed behind Bayern left-back Alphonso Davies, largely owing to the speed and power he consistently offers #BVBFCB
The movements offered by Lewandowski and Müller posed a consistent threat; one prioritised running in behind while the other withdrew to towards possession #BVBFCB
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Manchester City’s 4-3-3 started on the front foot as Arsenal initially attempted to press into the host’s half, in a 4-4-2 shape. Arsenal went player-oriented in the wide areas, with Declan Rice and Thomas Partey tracking Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gündogan’s forward runs. However, Silva’s wide runs to City’s right-side created space for Savinho to drive inside, penetrating against the aggressive jumping of Arsenal’s left-back, Calafiori. This helped disrupt and stretch Arsenal’s back line in the early stages, including when Haaland was slid in-behind to calmly open the scoring... 🧐🧵
It wasn’t long before Arsenal formed a low block, while City responded with a 3-1-5-1 shape. Josko Gvardiol moved into a left-side number eight role from full-back, with Gündogan as the central option underneath Haaland. Rodri – soon to be replaced by Kovacic – acted as the single pivot. Still, it was City’s right side that proved most potent, with Silva’s wider positioning supporting Savinho’s direct movements and dribbles against Calafiori... 🧐🧵
Stemming from tweaks to the 4-4-2 formation, and initially most popular in Spain, the 4-2-3-1 grew in popularity from the 2000s onwards. It has since been used with success by many prominent coaches, including Pep Guardiola, Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag... 4️⃣2️⃣3️⃣1️⃣🧵
Central protection...
The 4-2-3-1 requires defensive midfielders who can duel, tackle and intercept in individual battles. These midfielders must be alert enough to land on any second balls. They must have good acceleration and deceleration to help with this... 4️⃣2️⃣3️⃣1️⃣🧵
Spain used a 4-3-3 structure and built play patiently from the back, despite Germany pressing aggressively from their 4-2-3-1. They moved the ball around the back line to isolate Thomas Müller, before a centre-back stepped out with the ball into midfield... 🧐🧵
Olmo continued to move inside and Asensio dropped deep, in the process pulling Süle out of his position in Germany’s back line. This helped Spain to build out from the back and get around Germany’s increasingly effective high press... 🧐🧵
Traditionally, full-backs are the widest players in a back four, and as a result they attack and defend mostly in the wide areas. However, full-backs who move inside into central spaces are known as ‘inverted full-backs’. This movement adds an extra presence centrally... ↩️🧐
Although Pep Guardiola is the coach most associated with the inverted full-back, Johan Cruyff used them with Barcelona many years before. Then, he often converted the 4-3-3 into a 3-4-3 diamond, with one full-back inverting into central midfield... ↩️🧐
Manchester United were set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, but Fred pushed forward from the double pivot to become a number 8 and give them a stronger attacking presence in central midfield. Bruno Fernandes then adapted his positioning, moving into the left inside channel... 🧐🧵
The hosts eventually pushed both full-backs higher, primarily working around the outside of Tottenham’s wing-backs. United’s wingers then came inside, with the freedom to rotate with Fred and Fernandes, as long as both inside channels were always occupied... 🧐🧵